Library of Congress – LCCN

LCCN AssignmentIf you’d like to make your book available to libraries, we can help you obtain a Library of Congress Control Number, or LCCN, so your book is given a unique identifier and is eligible for library cataloging nationwide.

An LCCN for Your BookLibraries use the Library of Congress database, as well as other databases, to stay up-to-date on available titles. Make it easier for them to purchase your book by registering for a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)–a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns and uses for cataloging and other book-processing activities.

How It WorksYour personal representative will complete an application for your LCCN on your behalf and submit one copy of your book to the Library of Congress to be considered for cataloging. Here’s how the process works:1. Purchase the LCCN Assignment service before you approve your final proof. Note: After you have approved your proof the book is no longer eligible to begin this service.2. We will complete an application for your LCCN on your behalf and submit it to the Library of Congress.3. We will send you your LCCN within ten business days.4. We will submit one copy of your book to the Library of Congress to be considered for cataloging. Note: Submission for cataloging does not guarantee acceptance into the Library of Congress. To find out if you book has been cataloged, we suggest occasionally checking the Library of Congress Online Catalog.

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: What is an LCCN?An LCCN, or Library of Congress Control Number, is the number associated with the bibliographic record created by the Library of Congress for a given book.

Terms and Conditions

According to the Library of Congress, the following types of books are ineligible for an LCCN:

Previously published booksBooks which do not list a U.S. city as place of publication on the title page or copyright pageeBooks (electronic books)Items under 50 pages, with the exception of genealogies and children’s literatureGovernment documentsReligious instructional materials: materials for classes at all grade levels, vacation Bible school materials, confirmation studies, etc.Expendable educational materials: laboratory manuals, teachers’ manuals, programmed instruction test sheets, workbooks, activity books, etc.Transitory or consumable materials: trade catalogs, telephone books, calendars, coloring books, comic books, cutout books, etc.Translations, except SpanishTextbooks below the college levelFor a complete list of which types of books are ineligible for an LCCN, visit the Library of Congress website.